This publication, Army Techniques Publication ATP 1-05.02 Religious Support to Funerals and Memorial Events November 2018, provides fundamental doctrinal guidance on the execution of funerals, memorial ceremonies, and memorial services.
The primary audience for ATP 1-05.02 is chaplains and religious affairs specialists assigned to operational units to execute decisive action. It is also applicable to chaplain sections and unit ministry teams providing support to operational units as part of their overall mission. Trainers at combat training centers and educators throughout the Army also use this publication.
ATP 1-05.02 applies to the Active Army, Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the United States Army Reserve, unless otherwise stated. The proponent for ATP 1-05.02 is the United States Army Chaplain Center and School.
ATP 1-05.02 establishes a common understanding, foundational concepts, and methods for executing religious support during funeral services and memorial events. ATP 1-05.02 provides comprehensive doctrinal guidance on religious support techniques for chaplains and religious affairs specialists. The techniques contained in ATP 1-05.02 serve as a guide and are not considered prescriptive. ATP 1-05.02 nests with FM 1-05.
ATP 1-05.02 was written for chaplain sections and unit ministry teams at all echelons religious support in an operational environment. While written for an operational environment, the concepts and principles are also applicable in a garrison setting. It also provides the chaplain corps technical chain with guidance to execute supervisory requirements during the funeral or memorial process. Chaplains and religious affairs specialists serving in a joint force land component command or a joint task force should refer to JP 3-0, JG 1-05, and other joint planning publications for further guidance.
ATP 1-05.02 contains three chapters and two appendixes:
Chapter 1 reviews the chaplain corps mission, chaplain corps capabilities, religious support core competencies, and religious support to funerals and memorial events.
Chapter 2 describes funerals, including arrangements, care to the bereaved, military funeral considerations, chapel funerals, graveside services, and presentation of the flag.
Chapter 3 describes the differences between memorial ceremonies, memorial services, combatant theater memorial events, and ramp ceremonies, and concludes with a discussion of planning considerations and activities.
Appendix A provides templates covering planning timelines, sample script outlines, the last roll call, and questions to support checklist development. Several resources are provided which support the conduct of funerals, memorial ceremonies, and memorial services.
Appendix B provides a discussion of special planning considerations which are distinct to the conduct of memorial events.